Method of dressing and treating furs



Patented Aug. 19, 1941 METHOD OF DRESSING AND TREATING FUBS Oscar r. Muller, Glen ma N. 1., and Robert chwarr. Jr., Brooklyn, N. Y., minors to Dri-Wear, Inc., New York, N. Y a corporation oi New York No Drawing. Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,978

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods for dressing, treating and finishing furs, and has for its particular object the provision 01' a new method of dressin and treating furs so that the completed furs will be glossy, waterresistant, and, will also retain their softness, at I the same time showing an enhanced lustre.

Whilst the process hereinafter described is especially applicable to furs, it can also be used in treating or finishing other materials such as wool, cotton, silk, rayon, leather and paper.

A particular object of our invention is the treatment of furs and the like so that the waterreslstant compound may be developed directly upon the fur fibres and intimately in contact therewith, instead of employing a material which is already water-resistant and applying it externally to the fur fibres.

We prefer to use a combination of materials which interact with each other when applied to iur or other fibres, so that the finishing material is developed in situ.

The process which we have developed consists in forming upon the fibres a water insoluble ester preferably through the action or heterocyclic alcohols such as furfuryl alcohol, on aromatic acids or anhydrides, such as phthalic acid or anhydride. The particular ester-formed in the example here given is furfuryl phthalate.

A small amount of aluminum iormate may be added to increase. the water-resistant property 0! the compound and a small amount of ethyl lactate to increase the gloss upon the fur may also be added to the bath in which the furs are treated.

A typical formula using ounimproved process for the treatment of furs, such as lambskins, is as follows:

30 grams of phthalic anhydride are mixed with 50 cos. of ethyl lactate. An equal amount oi water is added and the liquid is boiled until solution is complete and gives a water clear colorless liquid. Then, 60 ccs. oi furfuryl alcohol are added to the solution and then suiiicient water to 1lazing up the entire amount of liquid to one The fur is dipped in this solution slightly warmed at a temperature 01' 85-90 F. when the esteriflcation begins to form iurfuryl phthalate and about a half hour is necessary for the complete esterification to occur.

The fur is then taken from the bath. hydroextracted, and dried at a temperature of 120 F. and is then subjected to an ironing and brushing process which could be performed electrically in the conventional manner.

As a retarding agent, a small amount of ammonia may be added to the bath, as, as long as the ammonia is present, esterification is prevented and occurs as the ammonia evaporates from the solution.

Aluminum formats or a wax emulsion such as is described in Patent No.'1,952,137 or March 2'1, 1934, to Oscar F. Muller, may also be added to the bath to increase the water-repellent propcities.

We find it desirable also to apply mineral oil or cod oil to the fur after drying-to'increase lustre.

Instead of phthalic acid and phthalic anhydride, other aromatic and polyhydric acids, such as benzoic. salicylic and succinic acids may be employed.

We are aware that processes exist for the treatment of furs in which synthetic resins and the like are formed. upon the fur fibres, but we believe that the process 01' esterification here illustrated is new.

Having iully described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A process of treating iurs by producing furiuryl phthalate in or upon the surface 01' said i'urs.

2. A process of treating furs, by subjecting same to a mixture containing Iuriuryl alcohol and a phthalate, under esterltying conditions.

3. process for treating furs, by producing an este o1 Iuriuryl phthalate in or upon the surface or said materials. 1

4. A process of treating furs-by treating same with a solution containing phthallc anhydride and iurfuryl alcohol at a temperature of -90 F. so as to form iuriuryl phthalate in or upon the surface of the material so treated.

5. A process of treating furs, to the action 01' a mixture of furiuryl alchol, phthalic anhydride and ethyl lactate at a temperature 01' 85-90" F. until esterification is complete, then drying, ironing and brushing said material.

OSCAR F. IEtQIEJilR'I' G. SCHWARZ, JR. 

